Chapter 101 The Sound of the Wind and the Foundation
It is Chen Yuanjiang.
Shu Ran's heart, which had been in her throat, instantly returned to its place, followed by a surge of annoyance. She walked quickly over and, by the moonlight, saw his figure leaning against her door. Her tone couldn't help but carry a hint of reproach: "Special Envoy Chen! Are you trying to scare me to death by standing here silently in the middle of the night?"
Chen Yuanjiang seemed surprised by her reaction, paused for a moment, and then straightened up. "Just passing by. I noticed you weren't back yet."
"Just passing by?" Shu Ran raised an eyebrow, looking at the secluded corner, which was quite a distance from the company headquarters and his usual patrol route. "Special Envoy Chen's patrol area is quite wide."
Chen Yuanjiang was speechless for a moment before changing the subject: "It's not safe this late."
“I knew it wasn’t safe,” Shu Ran said irritably, “so I almost mistook you for a bad guy and stabbed you.” She brandished the dagger in her hand, its cold gleam flashing in the moonlight.
Chen Yuanjiang's gaze lingered on the dagger in her hand for a moment, and he frowned slightly: "Try to come back earlier next time."
"I haven't finished my work." Shu Ran said as she took out her key to open the door. "If Special Envoy Chen has nothing else to do, please go back. I need to rest."
She was essentially telling him to leave. On one hand, she was genuinely startled and a little annoyed; on the other hand, she didn't want him to feel like he'd been waiting for her.
Chen Yuanjiang, however, did not move.
Shu Ran opened the door, turned to look at him, and asked, "Is there anything else?"
In the moonlight, his silhouette was somewhat blurred, but his eyes were exceptionally deep. He looked at her, seemed to hesitate for a moment, and then took something out from behind him and handed it to her.
"Here, take this."
Shu Ran took it; the cool, metallic casing was cylindrical—it was a flashlight.
These days, flashlights are scarce resources in the Production and Construction Corps, and batteries are even more precious.
“Just follow the road,” Chen Yuanjiang explained succinctly, his gaze sweeping over the dark path behind her. “Come back tonight, when it’s brighter.”
"Thank you." This time, the thanks were much more sincere. Shu Ran pressed a switch, and a beam of light cast a circle on the ground.
"Hmm." Chen Yuanjiang responded, looking at the light shining in her hand, seemingly satisfied, and turned to leave.
"Wait." Shu Ran called out to him, remembering the dried radish that Wang Honghua had given her, and took out the small cloth bag and stuffed it into his hand, "This is for you. It was given to me by Sister-in-law Wang Honghua, I can't finish it."
Chen Yuanjiang looked at the cloth bag that had suddenly appeared in his hand, somewhat taken aback.
"It's only fair to reciprocate." Shu Ran smiled, and before he could refuse, she went back inside. "Be careful on the road."
She closed the door.
Standing outside the door in the moonlight, Chen Yuanjiang looked down at the bag of dried radish in his hand, a gentle expression on his face. He tucked the bag into his coat and then strode away.
Inside the small room, Shu Ran placed the flashlight in the most convenient spot on the table and began washing up. She wondered if she should buy some yarn next time she went to the division headquarters. The weather was getting cooler; perhaps… she could knit a scarf? The thought had barely crossed her mind when she quickly shook her head, suppressing her romantic notion.
My career is just starting out, so let things take their course when it comes to relationships. They absolutely cannot interfere with the main mission.
As autumn deepens, Qiming Elementary School is bustling with activity.
Shu Ran is leading the children in reciting her self-composed "Practical Literacy Rhymes for Animal Husbandry":
"Little lamb, bleating, eat your fill of grass and grow well."
"Tractors rumble and turn, loosening the soil for sowing."
"Work points tickets, remember them well, the more you work, the more you earn, you'll understand."
Lin Xuezhou listened to the lesson from the back of the classroom, his pen flying across his notebook. He had to admit that although Shu Ran's simple methods lacked the systematic approach he advocated, their powerful vitality and practicality were being demonstrated in these children.
The bell rang, and the children poured out of the classroom, chasing and playing in the sturdy courtyard. Shu Ran and Lin Xuezhou walked to the classroom door and looked at the group of children.
"The progress is faster than expected." Lin Xuezhou closed his notebook. "Especially after incorporating vocabulary related to pastoral life, the acceptance rate among the herder children has significantly increased."
"Life is the best teacher." Shu Ran wiped the writing off the blackboard with a rag to save on chalk. "If they feel that what they are learning is useful, they will work hard on their own."
“Hmm.” Lin Xuezhou agreed, then added, “However, we can’t relax on basic pinyin and arithmetic rules. The children in my advanced group are already able to try more complex calculations.”
"Just make sure things proceed as planned on your end." Shu Ran nodded. "If you need any assistance, just let me know."
A tacit understanding based on shared goals has already formed between the two.
Just then, Sister Wang arrived in a flurry, carrying a small basket. "Teacher Shu, Teacher Lin!" she called out loudly, "These are freshly made tofu dregs pancakes; Li Xiulan asked me to bring them to the children to tide them over!"
Upon hearing this, the children cheered and crowded around. Sister Wang happily distributed the food, reminding them, "Eat slowly, don't choke! Shitou, keep an eye on your younger siblings!"
Watching her nimble movements and her presence among the children, Shu Ran felt a surge of emotion. She walked over and whispered to Sister Wang, "Sister, how's everyone's enthusiasm at the literacy class lately?"
"They're doing great!" Sister Wang's face lit up. "Ever since you taught them how to recognize, memorize, and read characters last time, quite a few people have been trying to figure it out! That girl Honghua even came to ask me yesterday what the 'precautions' meant! I think she's more attentive than anyone else!"
Shu Ran smiled: "That's good. Big sister, now that you're a women's representative, I was thinking that you could help me collect and organize information on the daily attendance of the literacy classes, the division of study groups, and the common difficulties everyone encounters in their studies. That way, my lesson preparation will be more targeted."
Upon hearing this, Sister Wang realized that Shu Ran was treating her like one of her own and entrusting her with an important task! She immediately straightened her back and said, "No problem! Leave it to me! I'll be the first to object to anyone who dares to slack off!" She now felt more and more that working with Shu Ran not only made her look good, but also made her feel at peace.
After seeing Sister Wang and the children off, Shu Ran and Lin Xuezhou began tidying up the classroom.
"Teacher Shu," Lin Xuezhou asked casually as she arranged the crooked stool, "when is your next report to the division headquarters?"
"The day after tomorrow." Shu Ran bent down to pick up the broken pencil stub that had fallen to the ground and carefully put it back in the pencil case. "What's wrong?"
"I've compiled a summary of recent teaching and an analysis of the children's learning progress. Perhaps... you could take it to Director Sun."
Lin Xuezhou's tone was somewhat unnatural as he handed over several sheets of densely written paper. "Although conditions here are tough, the work is progressing steadily. Letting our superiors know the real situation might... garner more support."
Shu Ran took the papers with some surprise. Lin Xuezhou's handwriting was neat and powerful, and his thoughts were clear and organized. He not only recorded the students' learning progress, but also included some of his thoughts on improving teaching methods. Although there was still some academic idealism in his writing, it was clear that he had put his heart into it.
"Okay, I will." Shu Ran carefully put it away. "Thank you, Teacher Lin."
Lin Xuezhou pushed up his glasses, trying to hide a hint of embarrassment: "It's all for work."
The day before heading to the division headquarters, Shu Ran was organizing her report materials in her small room. Besides Lin Xuezhou's, she had prepared most of her own—a thick stack of draft textbooks bound together from various scraps of paper, samples of homework written crookedly but with utmost care by the women in the literacy class, and many simple illustrations she had drawn reflecting life in the Production and Construction Corps and the pastoral areas. She wanted to present the most vivid and authentic side of the livestock company, this grassroots demonstration site.
The familiar sound of horses' hooves came from outside the window, growing louder as it approached, and finally stopping outside her cottage.
Shu Ran's heart stirred slightly. She put down her pen, walked to the window, and looked out through the gap in the dark blue curtain.
Chen Yuanjiang nimbly dismounted. He didn't knock, but as before, he seemed to be just passing by, his gaze habitually sweeping over her little house, lingering for a moment on the window and the door lock.
Shu Ran took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and walked out.
"Special Envoy Chen," she greeted.
Chen Yuanjiang seemed surprised by her sudden appearance. He paused for a moment before turning around and looking at her face. "Hmm."
"I'll be going to the division headquarters tomorrow to report on my work," Shu Ran said directly.
"I know." Chen Yuanjiang replied as if he had calculated the date perfectly.
A brief silence followed.
"Be careful on the road." Chen Yuanjiang finally managed to squeeze out a few more words, then slightly shifted his gaze to look elsewhere.
"Hmm." Shu Ran nodded, then suddenly remembered something, "By the way, Commissioner Chen, thank you for the flashlight you gave me last time, it was very useful."
Chen Yuanjiang didn't turn around, only uttering a single "hmm".
Another silence followed.
Looking at his seemingly concerned yet tightly-knit expression, Shu Ran found it both amusing and tender. She decided to take the initiative further; after all, investing in relationships requires strategy.
"I'm going to the division headquarters. Is there anything you need me to bring back? Or... is there anything you need me to tell anyone?" She asked deliberately vaguely, with a hint of probing.
Chen Yuanjiang looked at her. "No."
Shu Ran understood the situation and knew when to stop. "Alright then. This time, I might also discuss the textbook promotion with Director Sun. If all goes well, maybe we can get more pencils and notebooks for our company." She steered the conversation back to work, showing that her heart was still set on her career.
Sure enough, Chen Yuanjiang's expression softened. He looked at Shu Ran and said, "Just go ahead and do your job." He paused, then lowered his voice, "I'll take care of things in the company."
These six words settled on Shu Ran's heart.
"Thank you," Shu Ran said this time.
Chen Yuanjiang said nothing more, deftly mounted his horse, flicked the reins, and the chestnut horse galloped away, Chen Yuanjiang's figure quickly disappearing into the twilight.
Shu Ran stood at the door of the cottage until the sound of horses' hooves completely disappeared before letting out a soft breath. She touched her slightly flushed cheeks, turned around, and went back inside to continue organizing the materials.
This trip to the division headquarters might be more than just a routine report. Lin Xuezhou's suggestion, Chen Yuanjiang's promise that "I'm here for the company," and Director Sun's previously expressed urgent need for systematic teaching materials... all these signs suggest that an opportunity for change may be just around the corner.
She had to seize the opportunity. Not to leave the livestock company, but to stand on a higher platform and fight for a broader space and stronger protection for Qiming Primary School, for these children and women, and for herself.
She looked at the flickering kerosene lamp on the table, her eyes bright and resolute.
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